Ukiah apartment fire victims settling in to new homes, drive on for supplies

The eight families who lost their homes in the early Monday morning fire that devastated the Fircrest Apartments are all in permanent housing, and a funding drive is under way to help the families start rebuilding their lives, according to two local women who pooled their resources to help.

"People jumped out windows with the clothes on their backs, and they had nothing," said Ann Webb, owner of Ukiah Valley Rentals, of what inspired the women to act.

As of Friday, Webb had placed four families in her rental units throughout Ukiah. Robert Sherwood, who owns the Fircrest apartment complex, had relocated the other four families to Ukiah rental units he owns.

Plowshares is holding the funding drive, according to Executive Director Carrie Brigham. She aims to raise $50,000 to replace both the necessities and the creature comforts more than 20 people lost in the blaze, including food, pots, pans, cooking utensils, bedding, furniture and whatever else is needed.

She and Webb had already purchased some of the items, and gave kudos to Big Lots! and Walmart, which each gave the women discounts to help the displaced families. Brigham said she also planned to meet with a Mendocino College student who lost $500 worth of textbooks in the blaze.

Brigham also promised a public accounting of all funds raised for the cause so anyone who asks can see where the money went.

Trust, so far, has not been a problem, she said, and neither has the community's willingness to help. She started out with a goal of $10,000 and raised that amount in 24 hours.

"One man brought me $5,000 cash," Brigham said. Cash is easiest to keep track of, but donors can also make checks out to Plowshares with a notation that the money is for the fire victims, and dropped off or mailed to Plowshares Peace and Justice Center, 1346 S. State St., Ukiah, 95482.

Financial donations can also be dropped off or mailed to Ukiah Valley Rentals, 525 S. Main St., Ukiah, 95482.

Some of the money will also go to help those who still live at the Fircrest Apartments, but may be in need of counseling or other services after the traumatic event.

"These people are in shock," Brigham said, referring to the 51 people evacuated early Monday morning from the apartment complex's 50 units. "I've talked to every family, and I've talked to all the children."

Each of the families will be making a list of items they need as they move into their new homes, she said, and donors can also choose to sponsor items individually. She hoped to have the list available Monday.

For more information, call Plowshares at 462-8582.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.